Washington, DC, March 15—-Business inventories were up 0.9 percent in January, according to the Commerce Department. Sales were up 0.8 percent gain during the month.
The inventory-to-sales ratio remained at a record low 1.30.
Economists were expecting a 0.8 rise in inventories.
In the past year, sales are up 11.1 percent, while inventories rose 8.6 percent.
Retail inventories increased 0.4 percent in January while sales increased 0.2 percent. Auto inventories fell 0.6 percent while sales dropped 2.1 percent. The inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.52 for retailers.
Inventories at manufacturing firms increased a record 1.3 percent while sales climbed 1.4 percent. The inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.23.
Inventories at wholesalers increased 1.1 percent while sales increased 0.5 percent. The inventory-to-sales ratio rose to 1.15 from 1.14.
